Cleaning the Fish Tank

[MoMo]

I used to have several goldfish, which I kept in a 5-gallon aquarium.

The filter didn't work too well, and the tank would gradually get too dirty
for me to ignore. Finally, although it was not my favorite activity
in the world, I'd take the fish out, place them in a smaller container, and do my best to scrub the tank clean (carefully -- I wasn't using chemicals or anything; I did everything the way you're supposed to).

The great irony was that, seemingly every time I went through this
ritual, at least one fish died in the few days afterward. Why would
clean water kill them? Could it be the old scum had some nutritional
value -- or that they'd simply gotten used to it? I don't know.

But somehow (punchline) it all reminds me of what's been going on here
in the Lounge lately. The place definitely needed a good scrubbing.
Sometimes you could barely see the "fish" for all the pollution.

But for some reason the cleansing process here -- all this infusion of clear water -- has resulted in a temporary shock therapy, sort of like electric wires in a pond. Result: Things are almost TOO quiet.

I, for one, am hoping things will get a LITTLE bit mucky again... just enough to make things interesting. Controlled craziness, I think that's what we need. Civilized chaos.

Just MoMo's 2 cents' worth.

[fentonfreshman]

I think that we need a bigger bowl.

[luv2run]

Actually, a smaller bowl would result in a higher concetration of "craziness," which seems to be what MoMo wants. (Or just add more fish.)

I agree, by the way.

[fentonfreshman]

After looking at steveu's avatar, I feel like we're a bunch of dogs who just got taken from their old home to this new better home. Right now we're just sniffing arround feeling things out and pretty soon this will feel like home again.

[TI83]

you know what this place needs...a good old fashioned debate about something really controversial :rolleyes:

[MoMo]

Scum and muck!

Scum and muck!!!

;)

[gazzelle5]

wait, it seems to me that steveu "cleaned the tank" when the new board opened up and he restricted the lounge, therefore some of the good stuff died but overall it's better. are you saying the lounge still needs to be cleaned?

[MoMo]

No. I'm saying that for now, it's a little TOO "clean." We need
the boys to make some noise, so to speak.

I'm not really complaining -- things will come back -- just observing
that for now this town is a mite too quiet for this cowhand.

[gazzelle5]

alright, i gotcha

[TrackDaddy]

I'll be glad to start some mess about something if Steveu doesn't mind. :D

[KenA55]

Observations-
If you want to avoid the dirty tank/clean tank cycle, invest in some scumsucking fish and snails to scrape the scum away as fast as it grows. Just how that analogy can be applied here is beyond me.

Age the new water before cleaning the tank by letting it stand a few days- allows the chlorine/flourine additives to gas off; also assures no sudden temp change if both are in the same room. Sudden temp change is a killer, and the notion of a restricted lounge is a change in pressure and temp, takes some getting used to.

The craziness will ooze from the woodwork come off-season, when everybody's less busy and squirming with anticipation of the fall cross season. Right now I think everybody's enjoying a break from arguments along the same old spectrum, with the same predictable shades and tones from the various and vocal players. But it'll be back, just wait- just need some new news developments as a catalyst, I think we're all reluctant to replay the same exact discussions around the same tired themes. After a while, and with new wrinkles from world events, it'll seem fresh and we'll be going at it again, although possibly with more civil discourse due to more active moderation. But I wouldn't bet my last dollar on the more civil part.

[MoMo]

Ah! Exactly what I thought!

SOME bacteria is a good thing!

(I also think that's true of life in general. People who are obsessive about killing every germ in sight never seem any healthier than those who just go about their lives sensibly, observing the three-second rule for food dropped on the floor -- literally and figuratively -- thereby building up a hardy level of resistance to life's little bug-a-boos.)

[jrun]

So MoMo...care to label what, or rather who(s), is that pesky but needed bacterium?

[MoMo]

Uh, no.... :o

[KenA55]

I shower monthly whether I need it or not, can't be me!

:D

[jaygray]

Uh, no.... :o

I volunteer.

Extremophile.

Deep ocean vents, yellowstone mudpots, martian subsurface, dyestat scumsucking, whatever.

[MoMo]

Ha ha.

I think I'll change my screen name to...


MudPot.

[mzungu]

maybe we're getting some work done for once!

[Filipe]

Age the new water before cleaning the tank by letting it stand a few days- allows the chlorine/flourine additives to gas off; also assures no sudden temp change if both are in the same room. Sudden temp change is a killer, and the notion of a restricted lounge is a change in pressure and temp, takes some getting used to.


I was going to say this :)